Two perfect minibreaks for best friends or lovers from endless sand and sea to a nature-filled hot spot

TWO Sun writers take a loved one away with them to try and find the perfect minibreak.

Fashion Assistant Emily Regan visits the golden sands of Morocco while Associate Editor Sarah Barns checks into a nature-filled hotspot in the UK.

Mazagan Beach Resort, Morocco

Fashion Assistant Emily Regan and her boyfriend Harry found thrills aplenty on Africa’s coast.

The sun casts a warm glow over the rolling waves of the Atlantic as my boyfriend Harry and I saddle up on horses to trot across Mazagan’s beautiful, golden sands.

My cheeks ache from grinning so much, and I tick this romantic beach ride, from £20 per person, off my bucket list.

We’ve fallen for the hotel, too. Set on 7km of private coastline, just over an hour’s drive from Casablanca airport, Mazagan’s luxe, modern interiors combine with traditional Moroccan accents – think ornate tiles, hand-carved wooden architecture and eye-catching lanterns.

Our ocean-view suite includes a flat-screen smart TV, one of the comfiest king-sized beds I have ever slept in, and a bathroom with luxurious toiletries, a rain shower and large bath.

Sun, sea and sand dunes!

The next day, we swap four legs for four wheels and climb on to quad bikes, bouncing over sand dunes before speeding up a trail that winds through pretty woodland.

Here, we find the perfect spot for photos (and catching our breath).

A 30-minute quad-biking tour costs £32 per person.

There are four main eateries in the resort – at Oasis, the alfresco bar with pool views, we dig into delicious calamari, £17, and flavour-packed grilled chicken skewers, £14, paired with a chilled Casablanca beer, £6.

Meanwhile, dinner at Bushra by Buddha-Bar is a must.

A live band plays Moroccan music as we feast on sautéed shrimp, £8, followed by lamb and beef kofta, £16.50.

Flying high

“Ready?” the instructor asks us at the top of the 320m zipline, one of the longest in Morocco, £12 per person.

But before I can respond, I’m flying through the air and soaking up the views of the coastline below.

It’s not all about adrenalin kicks here, though.

The romantic couples’ aromatherapy massage banishes our knots and proves a real treat.

Massages cost from £57 for 30 minutes.

Later, we hit Studio 42, where lovely barman Said whips up an apple martini, £10.50, for me and, for Harry, the signature Mazagan cocktail, £11.50 – a concoction of home-made Moroccan rosé liqueur, Martini Rosato, Campari and gin.

On our last night, we eat at the stunning Sel de Mer.

Here, the lobster ravioli, £21, tastes sensational, while Harry treats himself to a whole one, which he picks out himself, £99.

I think, as Phoebe Buffay would say, we’ve both found our lobster!

Tewinbury Farm Hotel, Hertfordshire

Associate Editor Sarah Barns checked into a nature-filled hot spot with her bestie, Sarah.

“Baby Spice” struts past me in platform knee-highs as I sip a mango margarita, £10.

Warbling along to a Spice Girls tribute act in a fairy-lit barn makes a swift gear change from the five-course farm-to-fork tasting menu my bestie Sarah and I have just devoured.

But that’s the beauty of Tewinbury.

One minute you’re dining on gazpacho granita, the next you’re belting out Stop with a chorus of gin-fuelled millennial women.

This family-run former dairy farm, a 10-minute drive from Welwyn Garden City train station, is perfect for a girls’ weekend.

Brilliant bubbles

On arrival, we toast ourselves (and two nights kid-free!) with a glass of chilled prosecco on the deck of our Lake Hut, quaintly called Primrose.

This forest-green lodge sleeps two, is dog-friendly and features a spacious kitchenette with duck-egg-blue Smeg appliances, a shower with Bramley products and a hamper filled with board games.

But our favourite feature is the hot tub, where we spend the afternoon watching ducklings swim across the fishing lake.

There are six on-site restaurants, all of which serve up seasonal and local ingredients. At The Cowshed, tomato ragu with courgette and parmesan, £17, washed down with an Elderberry Royal, £15, is a hit.

As is the smoked salmon and crushed avocado brunch at The Stable Bar, which comes with a heap of lemon and dill mayonnaise, £14.

The film and pizza night, £25, at its boutique cinema is tempting, but we’ve nabbed a seat at the Chef’s Table in the Cookery School.

The £75 tasting menu also includes five wines and is a feast, with mouth-watering dishes, such as roasted wild wood pigeon with beetroot, as well as dark chocolate and sour cherry pudding.

Don’t sweat it!

Tewinbury wants you to relax, recharge and sweat, so we brave Titan’s Bootcamp, £12.50 per session, on a grassy field by the kitchen garden. Instructor Chris offers encouragement as we pant uphill carrying a giant wooden log and nearly wind one another during a bout of boxing.

If high-intensity exercise isn’t your thing, the farm also hosts yoga classes and there are dozens of walks across the 700-acre estate.

We grab a flat white, £3.90, from The Horsebox Bar and try the gentle Sherrardspark Wood route, stopping to watch the farm’s piglets roll around in their muddy sty.

Finally, to ensure we have ticked off the “relax” requirement of our trip, we book a 40-minute Signature Back Massage, £50.

Therapist Kelly works her magic on our tight shoulders with the help of avocado oil, and it’s safe to say Sarah and I have both got that zig-a-zig-ahh feeling…

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